Public water system · SD4600390
ActiveColton
At a glance
Colton (PWSID SD4600390) is an active community water system in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. It reports serving 738 people through 334 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2010.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
738
Service connections
334
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Colton compare with other water systems in Minnehaha County?
By EPA's size categories, Colton is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Minnehaha County has 15 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 16,983 people per system, and accounts for 0.3% of the 254,737 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across South Dakota, the 699 active systems average 1,387 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Colton is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. South Dakota has 510 active community water systems, 73% of the state's 699 active systems. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 100 South Dakota systems (14%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Colton?
EPA lists Colton as owned by a local government. The SD state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 10 of the 15 active systems in Minnehaha County (67%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Colton have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2010. The violations listed here began between January 1996 and November 2010. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 as archived. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11-05 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2003-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2000-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1998-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1998-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-11-09 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1997-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Benzo(a)pyrenecode 2306 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chlordanecode 2959 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Heptachlor epoxidecode 2067 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Colton: frequently asked questions
Who runs Colton?
Colton (PWSID SD4600390) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SD state drinking water program.
How many people does Colton serve?
Colton reports serving 738 people through 334 service connections in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
Where does Colton get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Colton have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2010. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Colton's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2010. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Colton's water quality report?
As a community water system, Colton must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Minnehaha County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | Minnehaha | 216,462 | Community | Surface water |
| Minnehaha Community Water Corp | Minnehaha + 2 more | 13,435 | Community | Groundwater |
| Brandon | Minnehaha | 11,048 | Community | Groundwater |
| Dell Rapids | Minnehaha | 3,633 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Hartford | Minnehaha | 3,396 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Crooks | Minnehaha | 1,362 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Colton, PWSID SD4600390, South Dakota”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-dakota/colton-sd4600390 (data as of October 1, 2026).